AGARTALA, Aug 8 (TIWN): First Arjuna award winner from Tripura Mantu Debnath on Monday congratulated Dipa’s parents following Dipa’s success in the Rio Olympic.

It is to be mentioned here Manth Debnath was the first Arjuna Awward winner from Tripura.  It really was the summer of 69, when Indian gymnast Mantu Debnath won a gold medal for the first time in the India-USSR cultural exchange held in Russia.

Debnath hailed from Tripura, tucked away in India's northeastern frontier. Back in Debnath's home town Agartala, 11-year-old Bisheswar Nandi couldn't hide his happiness, and started running and vaulting inside a shabby gymnasium, aiming to walk on Debnath's footsteps.

However, witnessing Dipa’s success in the Rio Olympic, First Arjuna award winner from Tripura Mantu Debnath Congratulated Dipa’s parent at Dipa’s residence in Abhoynagar.

The remarkable thing about the 22-year-old is that she does not seem to be overawed by the fact that she has competed with the finest of gymnasts. In fact, she managed to mix up with other young aspiring gymnasts.

Dipa has represented India at different international events like the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in China. She has excelled at the balancing beam, uneven bars, floor exercises and the vaulting table.

Dipa's success is another feather in the cap of the Tripura Gymnastic Council. Dipa's next target is a medal at the Olympics, and for that, she and her coach Bishweshar Nandi, are putting in eight to nine hours of rigorous practice.

But side by side she is also helping young gymnasts so that they can also perform like her or may be better in the coming days and bring laurels to the state and the nation.